Zion National Park [Guide, Maps, Itineraries & More] (2024)

FAQs

What is the best route through Zion National Park? ›

The two major scenic drives in the park: Zion Canyon and Zion-Mount Carmel Highway, both offer amazing views of the beautiful and characteristic rock formations you come to Zion for in the first place.

Ideally, you need two to three days to really explore Zion National Park. This will give you enough time to hike one of the longer trails such as Angels Landing or the Narrows and enjoy all the major viewpoints.

A guided tour of Zion National Park is the best way to make the most of your time. You'll not only get to hit the highlights of Zion, but you'll learn all about the park's history, geology, and ecology from your knowledgeable guide who's experienced almost every inch of the park.

Go early to get parking at the Visitor Center and avoid long shuttle lines. Walk the Pa'Rus Trail and follow the paths leading down to the river. Go into the park later in the day, up to 2-3 hours before sunset but don't miss the last shuttle out. Hike along Clear Creek in East Zion.

How long is the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive? Zion Canyon Scenic Drive is approximately 7 miles long. The up-canyon shuttle routes takes about 45 minutes to reach the last stop, Temple of Sinawava. The entire round-trip ride takes about an hour and a half.

However, if it's your first visit, try to spend at least two or three nights and venture to both Zion Canyon and Kolob Canyons. For the perfect road trip, combine a trip to Zion with these other national parks: Arches, Canyonlands, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, and the north rim of the Grand Canyon.

Zion National Park is open year-round, but about 70 percent of visitors come between April and September. If you have the flexibility, making the trip during the park's off-peak months of October through March means less crowded hiking trails and fewer view-blocking selfie sticks.

You'll get to experience plenty of different things in Zion National Park. We wouldn't really recommend spending more than two days in Bryce Canyon, but you could easily be in Zion for a week. Zion is also more developed than any of the other parks in Utah.

Majestic Neighbors. First off, it's very possible to visit Bryce Canyon and Zion in the same trip, even the same day! The distance from Zion to Bryce Canyon is 72.4 miles (116.5 kilometers), or, a 1 hour and 20 minute drive and it's a beautiful drive! Both Parks are found in the picturesque landscape of Southern Utah.

The drive into Zion Canyon (the main part of the park) from I-15 on the park's western side, following Utah 9 or Utah 17, and then Utah 9 to the south entrance at Springdale, is by far the more popular, with two-thirds of park visitors arriving there.

Can you walk in Zion instead of shuttle? ›

Zion Hikes From the Visitor Center

While the Watchman Trail has you winding through the canyons to the final panoramic viewpoint of lower Zion Canyon and the town of Springdale. Since these trails are not along the Scenic Drive, you don't need to take the Zion shuttle to hike the Pa'rus Trail or Watchman Trail.

During the busiest months, this shuttle service enables us to protect the park for generations to come. All visitors are required to use the shuttle to travel around the park, including along the six-mile Zion Canyon Scenic drive.

What a pleasant way to tour the Zion Canyon without having to fool with vehicle traffic. I suggest taking the shuttle all the way the initial time and use that first trip to plan what you want to see and what trails you may want to travel. It is wonderful to hop on and off at different locations.

Because Zion is a relatively small national park, it's easy to stay close to the park without actually being in the park. I recommend staying outside of Zion if you want nicer amenities, more variety in pricing, or more dining and activity options.

Shuttles take about 45 minutes to drive between the Zion Canyon Visitor Center and the Temple of Sinawava. This means a round trip takes about an hour and a half.

The drive into Zion Canyon (the main part of the park) from I-15 on the park's western side, following Utah 9 or Utah 17, and then Utah 9 to the south entrance at Springdale, is by far the more popular, with two-thirds of park visitors arriving there.

Directions. Zion National Park's main, south entrance and administrative offices are located near Springdale, Utah You may drive yourself on all open park roads except the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive. During most of the year, the Scenic Drive is accessed by shuttle bus only. Shuttles are free to ride.

Zion is a beautiful park, but it was not our favorite. If you are in the area it's definitely worth visiting, but Bryce Canyon National Park and Capital Reef were even more profound experiences for us. Bryce Canyon is unlike anything that we had ever experienced before.

2. ANGEL'S LANDING. Angel's Landing is the most iconic trail in Zion National Park. The trail begins at shuttle stop #6, The Grotto.